PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Savkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Savkov
vs
Black

175 cm
20
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Savkov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jason Black!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Savkov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Savkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Black sprawls well initially but Savkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Savkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Black's head.
Savkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savkov.
Savkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Savkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Black keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Savkov working over Black with some ground and pound. Black looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.
Savkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Savkov is looking to stall here but Black recovers full guard.
Savkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Savkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Savkov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Savkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Savkov with a nice head shot there.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.
Savkov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Savkov stands up over Black, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Savkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Savkov landing with the ground and pound.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Savkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Savkov postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
Savkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Savkov postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savkov working some strikes from top position.
Black keeping moving, preventing Savkov from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savkov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Savkov stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
Savkov wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black is trying to keep Savkov in close.
Black preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Savkov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Black avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savkov.
Savkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savkov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Black is looking to improve his position.
Black gets back to full guard.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black wants to stand up but Savkov is controlling him.
Savkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savkov postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
Savkov postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
Savkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov dominated that round.
That's time! Savkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Black slips under a jab.
Black looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Black throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savkov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Savkov loads up on a big right hand but Black slips the punch.

Savkov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Savkov showed some decent athleticism there.
Savkov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Savkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Black is trying to stand back up but Savkov is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savkov.
Savkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Savkov throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black is looking for a sweep. Savkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Savkov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savkov drops an elbow to the side of Black's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savkov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Savkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Savkov is nestled in close to Black, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Savkov is nestled in close to Black, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Black wants to improve his position but Savkov is controlling well.
Savkov working Black over with strikes.
Black is staying active underneath Savkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Savkov thows a huge punch but Black dodges it nicely.
Savkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savkov is trying to control. Black wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Savkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Savkov lands with a punch from half guard.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.
We've been hearing good reports from Savkov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Pavel Savkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savkov winds up and cracks Black with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Black is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Savkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Savkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Black is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Savkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Savkov throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Savkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savkov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Savkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Savkov controlling the action here.
Savkov throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Savkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Black can do to turn this around?
Savkov controlling the pace.
Savkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Savkov prevents Black from improving his position.
Savkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.
Savkov prevents Black from improving his position.
Black is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Savkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Black is staying active underneath Savkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Savkov working over Black with some ground and pound. Black looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Savkov working over Black with some ground and pound. Black looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Savkov.
Savkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Savkov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Savkov throws an off balance right hand
and Black counters with a straight right hand.

Savkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Black sprawls well initially but Savkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Savkov is thwarting Black's attempts to control the position.
Savkov wants to take a breather but Black is having none of it.
Savkov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Black avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Savkov.
Savkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Black's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Black keeps working.
Savkov lands strikes from half guard.
Savkov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Black!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to lock up and control but Savkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Savkov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Savkov wants to control the pace but Black is squirming around nicely.
Black is in a horrible position here. Savkov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Black is bucking up trying to escape but Savkov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Savkov lands with some strikes.

Black is rocked!
Savkov looking to ground and pound but Black is blocking nicely.
Savkov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Black is looking to get to half guard.
Savkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Black hang on?
Black is still in real trouble! Can Savkov finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black can't escape the position.
Savkov with the ground and pound from mount.
Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Savkov postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Black is out cold - huge knockout for Savkov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Pavel Savkov!
Pavel Savkov retains his welterweight title!
Pavel Savkov looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'You get your hands off my belt!'.